Supervisory and control system for food-handling institutions

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for supervising and controlling the preparation of foods and related activities in a food-handling institution. The system includes a console that provides visual and audible communication with selected remote points in the food-handling institution. The system also includes a conveyor for transporting food and other articles under the control of the console or an operator at the conveyor.

O United States Patent [151 3,641,263 Rhoads et al. Feb. 8, 1972 [s41SUPERVISORY AND CONTROL 3,020,034 2/1962 Laycak ..l78/DIG. 1

SYSTEM FOR FOOD-HANDLING 3,049,588 8/1962 INSTITUTIONS 3,088,544 5/19633,378,105 4/1968 [72] Inventors: Delmar D. Rhoads; Robert H. MacKay,

both of Fort Wayne, I OTHER PUBLICATIONS [73] Assignee: LincolnManufacturing Company, Inc., Mayer and Chipp-Closed Circuit TelevisionSystem Fort Wayne, Ind Planning, 1957- pp. 64-65, 79-74 [22] Filed: 24,1967 Primary Examiner-Richard Murray I Assistant ExaminerJoseph A.Orsino, Jr. [2]] Appl 663088 Attorney.lefi'ers& Rickert 52 us. 01..l78/6, l78/DIG. 1, l78/DIG. 30, ABSTRACT 186/1, 318/547 A system isprovided for supervising and controlling the [51] Int. Cl. ..H04n 7/ 18preparation of foods and related activities in a food-handling [58]Field of Search ..1 86/1; l78/DIG. l, DIG. 38; institution. The systemincludes a console that provides visual 313/546 543; 19 /21 40 42 andaudible communication with selected remote points in the food-handlinginstitution. The system also includes a conveyor [56] Referem Cited fortransporting food and other articles under the control of the console oran operator at the conveyor. UNITED STATES PATENTS 8C 9m F aims, wing 1res 2,966,772 l/l96l Markau ..l8 6/l to t E 4 TCH p 174 8P -3m! I 3103asses 4o J AysE SPEED I I I SUPPLY REY CONTROL $33 I, I I I I 5 82 mucusI I FWD- 44 I I I I32 SPEED AumSrop I R5, CONTROL I I 72 M Houns or I Jl Commuous I OPERATION I 30 METER I I 46 I I TRAYOPEQATED 42 I I COUNTsum'cH wow sizes 7? l I COUNTER I i B S O gI E T i REJEcr Button 48 RAYSREJECTED I l i COUNTER I I I 64168 SSELECTOR 1 L I SLUlTCHES I 5' 0CONVEYOR TELEVISON L i 51'A1'10N TV s CAMERAS I i *6 I I l 78 g '2 I a IINTERCOM 2 STATION I I g INTERCOMS I 'sELEcroQ I 6 swlrcuts PATENTEIIFEB8 H12 SHEET 3 0F 5 6-7 ATTORNEYS SUPERVISORY AND CONTROL SYSTEM FORFOOD- IIANDLING INSTITUTIONS II/\( KI IRUUNI) ()F'IHE INVENTION Ourinvention relates to a supervisory and control system, and particularlyto such a system for food-handling institutions such as a hospitalkitchen.

In a food-handling institution such as a hospital kitchen a dietitianusually supervises the handling and preparation of food for the hospitalpatients. In such an institution, the quantity of food being preparedmay be relatively large, and the variety and types of menus and dietsbeing supplied may be extensive and varied. In order to providehigh-quality food which is properly prepared and which satisfies therequirements of various diets, food-handling institutions have had toemploy a relatively large number of people in the kitchen. Frequently,these people are unskilled in preparing and handling food, and requireconsiderable training. And even after such training, a dietitian shouldor must exercise close or strict supervision and control over the foodbeing prepared, particularly where the food is for a person who mustadhere to a strict diet. Previously, where a variety of foods have beenprepared for a variety of persons and types of diets, it was frequentlynecessary that a number of dietitians be employed to provide the propersupervision of the preparation of such foods. As in many skilledvocations, dietitians are relatively scarce and difficult to obtain oremploy.

Accordingly, an object of our invention is to provide a supervisory andcontrol system for food-handling institutions.

Another object of our invention is to provide a system having a centralconsole with which a dietitian can supervise and control the preparationand handling of food at a number of remote locations.

Another object of our invention is to provide a supervisory and controlsystem for use in food-handling institutions to provide means with whicha single person can supervise and control a relatively large number ofunskilled employees at remote locations.

Another object of our invention is to provide a supervisory system withwhich a dietitian can closely inspect the handling and preparation offood at a number of remote locations, and can communicate with people atthese locations as to the handling of such food.

Another object of our invention is to provide a supervisory and controlsystem having central voice and visual communication with a number ofremote points at which food is handled or prepared to provide adietitian with means for closely observing and supervising thepreparation of food.

Another object of our invention is to provide a supervisory and controlsystem for a dietitian.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, these and other objects are achievedin accordance with our invention by a control console which has visualcommunication means and audible communication means. The console visualand audible communications means may be selectively connected to one ormore remote visual-sensing and audible communication means. A foodconveyor is provided at a desired location in the food-handling area.One or more remote visual-sensing and audible communication means arepositioned at one or more points along the conveyor. A first speed anddirection control for the food-handling conveyor is provided at theconveyor, and a second speed and direction control for the conveyor isprovided at the control console. The conveyor is normally controlled atthe console, but may be controlled at the conveyor if desired. Thus, askilled operator such as a dietitian, when provided with the console andits associated communication means and conveyor control, can superviseand control the handling of food by communicating with workers at remotelocations and by controlling the operation of the conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The subject matter which we regard asour invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in theclaims. The structure and operation of our invention, together withfurther objects and advantages, may be better understood from thefollowing description given in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a typical food-handling institution whichutilizes our invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a food conveyor utilized inaccordance with our invention;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a control console in accordance withour invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of a food-handling conveyor inaccordance with our invention;

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show further views of our control console; and

FIG. 9 shows an electrical diagram of our control console andfood-handling conveyor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a plan view of atypical food-handling institution in a typical application such as ahospital having 50 beds. This institution may include an office 10, anda control room 12 adjacent to the office 10. The control room 12contains a control console 14 in accordance with our invention. Thecontrol console 14 is connected to a number of remote communicationlocations or points indicated by the letter C followed by a numeral.Each of the communication points includes an intercom for audiblecommunication in both directions between the communication point and thecontrol console. Each or selected ones of these communication pointsinclude visualsensing means in the form of television camera tubes whichscan the areas indicated, and provide signals to the control console 14.

The food-handling institution shown in FIG. 1 also includes a kitchenarea 16 with food storage areas, counters, sinks, tables, stoves, andovens. The kitchen 16 is provided with a communication point C5. Next tothe kitchen is a walk-in storage area 18 which may include shelves forcan goods and the like, and which may also include refrigerators. Thewalk-in storage area is provided with a communication point C4. Adishwashing room 20 is provided, and this room 20 includes a storagearea, tables, dishwashers, sinks, and means such as cans or disposalsfor garbage. The dishwashing room 20 is provided with a communicationpoint C2. Food for the patients is assembled and made up in an assemblyand makeup room 22. The room 22 includes a conveniently andstrategically located conveyor 24. A dish storage area is provided atthe head end of the conveyor 24 for clean dishes, trays, and utensils.Food carts are positioned along the sides of the conveyor 24 to enableworkers to place food on the dishes. The assembly and makeup room 22 isprovided with a communication point CI which is positioned at thedischarge end of the conveyor 24 to provide good communication andvisual inspection of the finally prepared food on the conveyor 24. Asecond communication point C3 is also provided in the assembly andmakeup room 22.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the conveyor 24. FIG. 2 shows how thecommunication point CI is located or positioned to provide goodvisual-sensing or scanning of the conveyor 24 and to provide audiblecommunication between the communication point Cl'and the control console14. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a dietitian at the controlconsole 14. In FIG. 3, it has been assumed that the dietitian hasswitched her console 14 to visual communication with communication pointC1. The tray on the conveyor 24 of FIG. 2 is thus visually displayed ona television screen of the control console 14 of FIG. 3. The dietitianmay also be in audible communication with the communication point C1, ormay be in audible communication with another communication point.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of our conveyor 24. The conveyor 24is shown as being mounted on wheels or rollers, but it is to beunderstood that the conveyor 24 may be permanently located. The conveyor24 includes a moving endless belt 26 which is driven by a reversible,variable speed electric motor positioned at the head end 28 of theconveyor 24. This electric motor is not visible in FIGS. 4 or 5, buttypically may be a direct current motor whose speed and direction may becontrolled at the conveyor 24. The speed is controlled by a speedcontrol 30, and the direction of rotation of the motor is controlled bythe position of a reversing switch 32. At the downstream or dischargeend 34 of the conveyor 24, we provide a plate 36 which is hinged at itshead or upstream end, and biased at an upward angle by an adjustablespring or similar device 38. When depressed by a tray or similararticle, the plate 36 operates a stop switch 40 and a count switch 42.When the stop switch 40 is operative in an electrical circuit, a tray orsimilar article moving on the belt 26 passes over the plate 36 anddepresses the switch 40. The switch 40 opens an electrical circuit tothe motor and stops the motor. The stop switch 40 is rendered operativeor inoperative by the position of a selector switch 44. In one position,the selector switch 44 includes the stop switch 40 in the motor circuit;and in the other position, the selector switch 44 eliminates the stopswitch 40 from the motor circuit so that the conveyor continues to movedespite a tray or article on the plate 36. Also, when the plate 36 isdepressed, it operates the count switch 42 to close an electricalcircuit to provide a count of the trays or articles which pass over theplate 36. An emergency stop switch 46 is provided for the conveyor 24 sothat an operator may push the switch 46 to stop the motor under anydesired condition. A reject button 48 is provided for the conveyor 24 sothat if, for some reason, a prepared tray is rejected, the button 48 maybe depressed to provide a signal to the console 14. This signal can beused to provide an indication, an alarm, or a count of the fact that atray has been rejected. The conveyor 24 shown in FIG. 4 is also providedwith a number of additional intercom stations Cla and Clb which arepositioned along the side of the conveyor 24 for audible communicationbetween the dietitian at the console 14 and the workers along theconveyor 24.

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 show perspective, front elevation, and side elevationviews respectively of the console 14 in accordance with our invention.The console 14 is shown as being mounted on wheels or rollers, but it isto be understood that the console 14 may be fixed. The console 14comprises a rear panel in which a television picture tube 60 is mounted.The various television circuits are mounted within the console 14 behindthe picture tube 60. A clock 62 is mounted near the top of the panel onthe right of the picture tube 60. Two electrically operated counters 64,66 are mounted beneath the clock 62. In a preferred embodiment, thecounter 64 is used to count the number of trays rejected for a givenmeal or operation, and the counter 66 is used to count the number oftrays prepared or passing over the plate 36 of the conveyor 24 for agiven meal or operation. The counters 64, 66 may be provided with thumbwheels or other means for resetting these counters at the beginning of anew meal or operation. Two additional electrically operated counters 68,70 are mounted on the rear panel on the left of the picture tube 60. Ina preferred embodiment, the counters 68, 70 are used to provideaccumulative or total count. Specifically, the counter 68 is used tocount the total number of trays which have been rejected over a givenoperating period, and the counter 70 is used to provide a count orindication of the total number of trays which have been served or whichhave passed over the plate 36 of the conveyor 24. Beneath the counters68, 70 is an hour meter 72 which can be used to show the number of hoursthat the conveyor motor has been in operation. A master on-off switch 74is positioned beneath the hour meter 72. The intercom controls arepositioned beneath the television picture tube 60. These intercomcontrols include station selector switches 76, and one or more intercomtransducers 78 which serve as speakers and microphones. The transducers78 are connected to remote communication points by depressing one ormore of the intercom selector switches 76.

On the front panel of the console 114, we provide a motorspeed control80 at the right. The motor controls also include a direction switch 82and an automatic stop or continuous operation selector switch 84. Thespeed control 80, the direction switch 82, and the selector switch 84are similar to and perform the same functions as the speed control 30,the direction switch 32, and the selector switch 44 on the conveyor 24.At the left of the front panel, television selector switches 86 aremounted. These switches 86 connect the television picture tube 60 to aselected one of the communication points. Adjacent each of the switches86 is a pilot light to indicate to the dietitian or operator whichcommunication point is being viewed on the television picture tube 60. Areject button 88 is placed on the front panel of the console 14 toprovide an electrical signal if the dietitian or operator sees a traywhich should be rejected.

FIG. 9 shows an electrical diagram of the console 14 and the conveyor24. Alternating current power for the system is provided through themain switch 74 to a power supply 75 for the conveyor motor 77. Since weprefer that the motor 77 be a direct current motor, the power supply 75converts the alternating current to direct current. This direct currentis supplied to the direction switch 82 which is a three-position switchhaving a forward contact, a transfer contact, and a reverse contact.When the switch 82 is connected to the forward or reverse contacts, theswitch 32 is inoperative. The forward and reverse contacts are connectedto the speed control 80 which in turn is connected to the selectorswitch 84. This selector switch 84 is a two-position switch having anautomatic stop contact and a continuous contact. The automatic stopcontact is connected through the tray-operated stop switch 40 and theemergency stop switch 46 to the motor 77. The continuous contact isdirectly connected through the emergency stop switch 46 to the motor 77.Thus, the motor 77 may be controlled from the console by positioning theswitch 82 on the forward or reverse contacts, and controlling its speedby the speed control 80. The speed control 80 may be any suitable directcurrent speed-control circuit, such as phase-controlled rectifiers orsimilar circuits. If the selector switch 84 is connected to itsautomatic stop contact, power for the motor 77 is interrupted when atray passes over the plate 36 of the conveyor 24 and opens the switch40. If the selector switch 84 is connected to its continuous contact,the motor 77 receives power continuously, so that the conveyor continuesto operate. In this case, the motor may only be stopped at the conveyorby the emergency stop switch 46. If the switch 82 is connected to itstransfer contact, power from the power supply 75 is connected to thedirection switch 32 in the conveyor 24 so that the switch 32 isoperative. This switch 32 connects to either a forward or reversecontact, which in turn is connected to the speed control 30. The speedcontrol 30 may be similar to the speed control 80. The speed control 30is connected through the selector switch 44 to the motor 77 through theemergency stop switch 46 or through the trayoperated stop switch 40.Thus, the motor 77 and operation of the conveyor belt 26 may becontrolled by a person at the conveyor 24, if the operator at theconsole connects the switch 82 to the transfer contact. Otherwise,control of the conveyor 24 is kept at the console 14. The hours ofoperation meter 72 is connected to the line supplying power to the motor77 so that this meter 72 operates and accumulates time as the motor 77is operated.

The number of trays served is indicated by the counters 66, 70 which aresupplied with a suitable signal or closure of a suitable circuit by thetray-operated count switch 42. Likewise, the number of rejected trays iscounted or indicated by the counters 64, 68. If a person at the conveyor24 sees a tray which, for some reason, should be rejected, the rejectbutton 48 may be depressed to provide a signal or an electrical circuitwhich causes the counters 64, 68 to count or indicate a rejected tray.Likewise, the console operator may depress the reject button 88 toprovide a similar count. If desired, when the reject button 48 isoperated, an alarm may be sounded at the console 14, but no count may beindicated in the counters 64, 68 at this time. Upon hearing this alarm,the console operator or dietitian may, through the picture tube 60,inspect the tray. If the dietitian decides that the tray should berejected, she may depress her reject button 88 which supplies the countto the counters 64, 68 and which also cuts off the alarm. Or, if thedietitian decides that the tray should not be rejected, she may operateother circuits (not shown) to turn off the alarm, without providing theadditional count.

The television picture tube 60 may be connected to any one of aplurality of television pickup cameras at the various communicationpoints by the television selector switches 86. Likewise, the consoleoperator or dietitian may make an audible connection to thecommunication points through the intercom selector switches 76. Theseswitches 86, 76 have been shown as being rotary switches, but they maybe the pushbutton-type switches shown in FIG. 6 or the toggle-typeswitches 86 shown in FIG. 6. The switches 86, 76 may be combined so thatboth the television picture tube 60 and the intercom 78 are connected tothe same communication point through a single switch. A number ofcommunication points may be connected to the intercom system at the sametime. It is also possible to have more than one television picture tube60, but we have only shown one such tube to keep the explanation of ourinvention relatively simple. It will thus be seen that our inventionprovides a new and improved system for permitting a dietitian or singleoperator to supervise and control the preparation and handling of foodat a number of remote points. Our system permits a single operator ordietitian to view and inspect the operation, preparation, and handlingof food at various points, and permits her to control a conveyor onwhich the prepared food is being moved. The dietitian may communicatewith people at remote communication points, and supervise or giveinstructions to people at these points. While we have shown ourinvention in only one embodiment, persons skilled in the art willappreciate that modifications may be made. For example, the number ofcommunication points may be increased or decreased, and the number oftelevision picture tubes may be increased. Likewise, various means maybe added to provide other indications of the food or the condition ofthe food on the conveyor. Therefore, while our invention has beendescribed with reference to a particular embodiment, it is to beunderstood that modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention or from the scope of the claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is: I

1. A system for supervising and controlling the handling of food ininstitutions, comprising:

a. a food conveyor having a reversible drive motor therefor;

b. first speed and direction controls for said drive motor associatedwith said conveyor;

c. a control console having visual communication means and audiblecommunication means;

d. second speed and direction controls for said drive motor associatedwith said control console;

e. means connecting said first and second speed and direction controlsto said drive motor;

f. means associated with said control console for selectively renderingone of said first and second speed and direction controls operative;

g. a plurality of remote visual-sensing means and remote audiblecommunication means;

h. means at said control console for selectively connecting one remotevisual-sensing means to said control console visual communication means;

i. and means independent of said last-named means and at said controlconsole for selectively connecting one remote audible communicationmeans to said control console audible communication means. 2. The systemof claim 1 wherein said means for selectively rendering one of saidfirst and second speed and direction controls operative comprises meanspositioned at said control console for rendering said first speed anddirection control inoperative in response to said second speed anddirection control being rendered operative.

3. The system of claim 1, and further comprising means associated withsaid conveyor for selectively and automatically stopping said drivemotor in response to an article at the discharge end of said foodconveyor.

4. A system for supervising and controlling the handling and processingof food in kitchens and like establishments, comprising:

a. a central control station having television picture display means andintercom speaking apparatus;

b. a plurality of remote communication points each having televisioncamera means and intercom speaking apparatus;

c. means connecting each of said communication points to said controlstation;

d. means positioned at said control station for selectivelyindependently connecting said television picture display means and saidintercom speaking apparatus at said control station to at least one ofsaid connecting means;

e. conveyor means positioned at one of said remote communication points,said conveyor means having a variable speed and a reversible directiondrive therefor;

. means at said one remote communication point for controlling theoperation of said variable speed and reversible direction drive;

g. and means at said control station connected to said controlling meansat said one remote communication point for controlling the operation ofsaid variable speed and reversible direction drive; said controllingmeans at said control station being operable to the exclusion of saidcontrolling means at said one remote communication point.

5. The system of claim 4, and further comprising means at the dischargeend of said conveyor means responsive to an article thereon, and meansselectively connecting said article responsive means to said conveyordrive for stopping said conveyor drive in response to an articlepositioned on said article responsive means.

6. The system of claim 4, and further comprising means at said conveyorwhich can be actuated in response to the presence of an individualarticle on said conveyor, means connecting said actuatable means to saidcontrol station, and indicating means at said control station connectedto said last mentioned connecting means.

7. The system of claim 4, and further comprising means at the dischargeend of said conveyor means responsive to the presence of an article, andmeans positioned at said control station and connected to said articleresponsive means for indicating the presence of an article at saidarticle responsive means.

8. The system of claim 7, and comprising further means at said dischargeend of said conveyor means responsive to the presence of an article, andmeans selectively connecting said further means to said conveyor drivefor stopping said conveyor drive in response to the presence of anarticle at said further responsive means.

1. A system for supervising and controlling the handling of food ininstitutions, comprising: a. a food conveyor having a reversible-drivemotor therefor; b. first speed and direction controls for said drivemotorassociated with said conveyor; c. a control console having visualcommunication means and audible communication means; d. second speed anddirection controls for said drive motor associated with said controlconsole; e. means connecting said first and second speed and directioncontrols to said drive motor; f. means associated with said controlconsole for selectively rendering one of said first and second speed anddirection controls operative; g. a plurality of remote visual-sensingmeans and remote audible communication means; h. means at said controlconsole for selectively connecting one remote visual-sensing means tosaid control console visual communication means; i. and meansindependent of said last-named means and at said control console forselectively connecting one remote audible communication means to saidcontrol console audible communication means.
 2. The system of claim 1wherein said means for selectively rendering one of said first andsecond speed and direction controls operative comprises means positionedat said control console for rendering said first speed and directioncontrol inoperative in response to said second speed and directioncontrol being rendered operative.
 3. The system of claim 1, and furthercomprising means associated with said conveyor for selectively andautomatically stopping said drive motor in response to an article at thedischarge end of said food conveyor.
 4. A system for supervising andcontrolling the handling and processing of food in kitchens and likeestablishments, comprising: a. a central control station havingtelevision picture display means and intercom speaking apparatus; b. aplurality of remote communication points each having television camerameans and intercom speaking apparatus; c. means connecting each of saidcommunication points to said control station; d. means positioned atsaid control station for selectively independently connecting saidtelevision picture display means and said intercom speaking apparatus atsaid control station to at least one of said connecting means; e.conveyor means positioned at one of said remote communication points,said conveyor means having a variable speed and a reversible directiondrive therefor; f. means at said one remote communication point forcontrolling the operation of said variable speed and reversibledirection drive; g. and means at said control station connected to saidcontrolling means at said one remote communication point for controllingthe operation of said variable speed and reversible direction drive;said controlling means at said control station being operable to theexclusion of said controlling means at said one remote communicationpoint.
 5. The system of claim 4, and further comprising means at thedischarge end of said conveyor means responsive to an article thereon,and means selectively connecting said article responsive means to saidconveyor drive for stopping said conveyor drive in response to anarticle positioned on said article responsive means.
 6. The system ofclaim 4, and furthEr comprising means at said conveyor which can beactuated in response to the presence of an individual article on saidconveyor, means connecting said actuatable means to said controlstation, and indicating means at said control station connected to saidlast mentioned connecting means.
 7. The system of claim 4, and furthercomprising means at the discharge end of said conveyor means responsiveto the presence of an article, and means positioned at said controlstation and connected to said article responsive means for indicatingthe presence of an article at said article responsive means.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, and comprising further means at said discharge end ofsaid conveyor means responsive to the presence of an article, and meansselectively connecting said further means to said conveyor drive forstopping said conveyor drive in response to the presence of an articleat said further responsive means.